Improved gate for draw-bridges



mulini states @will wml Letters Potent o. 95,821, dated October 12, 1869.

IMPROVED GATE FOR DRAW-BRIDGES.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

'To ell whom it may concern Beit known that I, GORDON ALLEN MAY, ofthe city of Chicago, ip the county of Cook, and Stute of Illinois, here invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gaite forv Draw-Bridge, and I do hereby declare that the following is n full, clear, and exact description thereof", referencebeing had to the nccompztnyin g drnwingsuieking part of this speciczition, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, like let-ters indicating like parts wherever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

In the drawing- Fignre l is a. view of my bridge in perspective, and

Figure 2 is a side View of n part detached.

The object of my invention being n'gate or barrier, affixed to draw-bridges, ferry-boats, and such like, for

the purpose of' preventing accidents when such bridges are opening or opened, or ferry-boats are putting to or olf the shore or lending, its nature consists in n. picketl'ence or gate, so :n'mnged and aixed to the end of' a pier, abutment, or other structure, in the plncejvhcre the ends of the drow-bridge come to and forni e continuous roadway with the seid pier, abutment, or other structure, that the snid drew-bridge, by means of pin .er pins, stops, or other similar projecting isituresafxcd nt the ends or corners of' the some, whenopeningor closing, drng the said picket-fence or gute across or from the passage or approach-wey of the said structures.

The invention consists, also, in the particular construction of the said picket-fence or gate, rendering it plieble,a.nd Well adapted to be applied both to stmight and curved surfaces or lines, `ns also rendering it light and movztble.

A is the drew-bridge.

B, the abutment or pier.

(l, the fence or gate. This consists ot' pickets D I), wooden or metallic, euch provided with twofor more rollers, fl (l, as represented onthe accompanying drewing. Also, each oi' said pickets `isJ provided with lips ff, coming over and extending below thesnid rollers, the rows of the rollers und lips forming continuons lines, when the said pickets ere jointed.

The pickets are connected, each to the other, by two or more loose joints, g g, consisting of loops, hooks, or other suitable loose joints, which are always so arranged as to make the fence or gate (l pliable.

To the abutment B, in li'ont and extending on its sides in n straight or curved line, are ntllxed bfus or plates E E, being secured to the said structure by suitable fixtures, and so spaced as to correspond with the distance et which rollers d d' ereaixed on the pickets, seid bars or pla-tes serving as tracks for the said rollers to set nud more on.

The gate C is set on these tracks, so that when moved, the rollers would travel on the tracks, While. the lips ff, lapping over the said tineke, would keep the vfence in proper position.

" To each ofthe ends or corners of the bridge A are' affixed pins, catches, stops, or other suitable projecting fixtures, F F, of such length and shape es to catch the end picket ofthe gate C every time the bridge is opening or closing, and draw or push the said fence across the nbutments B, thereby closing or opening the approach to the bridge A.

The above-described device, with proper modifications, cnn readily be applied to ferries, canals, cc.

The operation consists in the following:

lvhen the bridge is on :i line with the' roadway, the gates me along theopposit-e sides oi' the opposite abutment, and as the bridge is turned in the directions ot" the arrows, the pins li F cri-tch into the onter'pickets ofthe gestes, and the gates are drawn round in front of theztbntments,and are then left, enclosing the space between, and guarding the zibutnients from injury.

Then the bridge is being returned to its original position, the pins F F again engage with the pickets, nml the gates are carried back to their originel posi- Y tion.

Hoving thus fully described in v invention,

flint I claim as nen", anni desirf` to secure by Letters Patent, is Y l. The gate or fence C, consisting of pickets prorided withrollers to run upon, and the lips or projections, to keep the same on the tracks, said pickets connected by suitable loose joints, so ns to make the gate pliable, and adapted n :is barrier for draw-bridges l(ind other structures, substantially as herein set forth and specific-d.

2. ln combination with the. above, the bois, plates, or tracks E E, and pins, catches, stops, or other snitvable projecting lixtures F F, substantially es :ind for the purposes herein set forth and specified.

GOED( )N ALLEN MAY. Witnesses: J. B. TURCHIA', JOHN Moln'rosn. 

